Forming apparatus



Aug. 14,- 1951 e. o. CONNER 2,564,354

FORMING APPARATUS v Filed Au 8, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GUY O. CONNER Aug. 14, 1951 ca. 0. CONNER FORMING APPARATUS 3 sheeig-sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1947 INVENTOR GUY O. CONNER G. O. CONNER Aug. 14, 1951 FORMING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 8, 1947 INVENTOR GUY O. CONNER ww *4 I Patented Aug. 14, 1951 FORMING APPARATUS Guy 0. Conner, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Danly Machine Specialties, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application August 8,1947, Serial No. 767,610

22 Claims. (Cl. 164-12) This invention relates to a forming method and apparatus. It relates particularly to a novel method and apparatus for rapidly forming and delivering blanks from a work piece. It relates further to a novel method and apparatus for forming and delivering hollow blanks from a work piece and separately delivering the cores from the hollow blanks.

While my invention is of wide utility I have adapted it specifically to the manufacture of hollow nut blanks from strip movable through a forming machine. For purposes of explanation and illustration the invention will be described as embodied and practiced in a method of and apparatus for forming hollow nut blanks out of metal strip.

I preferably pass a work piece, which is desirably an elongated work piece such as a strip, through aforming machine having cyclically operable dies and cause the dies to operate upon the strip at each cycle to form .and deliver nut blanks. In the particular form illustrated the machine is a high speed stamping machine of the Corner type such as is disclosed in my issued patents of which Patent No. 2,406,808 is an example. However, it is possible to embody and practice features of my invention in machines of other types having cyclically operable dies and means for properly feeding the work.

I form and deliver a blank from a work piece by severing the blank from the work piece, disposing the severed blank in a position in which it is adapted to be delivered by the work piece by the work piece from the location of severing. Means may be provided at the location to which the blank is thus moved to dislodge or separate it from the work piece which upon removal of the blank may become scrap.

I preferably relatively move the severed blank and work piece toward each other after the blank has been severed from the work piece to cause the blank to at least partially re-enter the opening in the work piece from which the blank was stamped out or' otherwise formed. Desirably the work piece remains in a substantially fixed plane in the working zone and I provide means for pushing the severed blank back toward the work piece to cause t o be m f 2 tionally lodged in the opening in the work piec from which it was formed. The blank may be forced back substantially into the plane of the work piece or it may be forced back only part way so that the blank projects into the opening in the work piece through a distance equal to only a fraction of the depth of the opening, as, for example, one-fourth to one-half. In either case the blank is frictionally engaged and held by the work piece so that the work piece itself becomes the means for delivering the previously severed blank from the location of severing to another location where the blank is knocked out of the work piece and delivered from the apparatus.

When hollow blanks such as nut blanks are to be formed a core is removed from each blank and it is desirable to separately deliver the cores and the blanks from the dies so that they will not at any time be intermingled, thus obviating separating them either manually or by use of a separator (an example of a separator is disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 767,609, filed August 8, 1947, now Patent No. 2,542,630, granted February 20, 1951). I provide for separately delivering the hollow blanks and cores. I preferably form the blanks from the work piece and remove the cores from the blanks at one station anddeliver either the cores or the hollow blanks at that station and deliver the other thereof at a second station. The structure shown in the drawings is adapted to sub stantially simultaneously stamp a blank from a work piece and a core from the blank at the first station and to deliver the cores from the dies at that station, the hollow blanks being moved to a second station where they are delivered. Desirably the hollow blanks are moved to the second station by the work piece in the manner above described although this is not in all cases essential. It is desirable to deliver the blanks and cores in opposite directions from the work piece, as, for example, to deliver the cores upwardly and the blanks downwardly.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises a hollow punch which cooperates with suitable opposed die means to simultaneously stamp the blank from the work piece and the core from the blank. The cores are delivered upwardly through the hollow punch, forming an upwardly moving stack which is built up from the bottom, each core forcing the core above it and consequently the entire stack upwardly through the hollow punch.

I desirably employ a work guide which is mounted for linear oscillating movement between the heads and is caused to oscillate therebetween in synchronism with the movement of the heads parallel to the direction of oscillation of the guide means. Preferably upon each movement of the guide means in the forward direc tion the work piece is caused to move therewith so that the work piecemay be advanced through the apparatus step by step, a hollow blank being severed from the work piece and re-engaged in the work piece at one step and knocked out at a succeeding step. In the structure shown the machine operates through an intermediate cycle between the cycle in which the blank is formed and the cycle in which it is knocked out. Means preferably extend between the heads of the machine which carry the dies and engage the guide means to insure oscillation of the guide means in synchronism with the heads. The feed means do not themselves constitute the present invention but suitable feed means will be provided for feeding the work piece through the machine. When a machine of the Conner type such as that shown in the drawings is employed the work piece .is advanced step by step and feed means such as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,406,808 may be vemployed.

Desirably one of the heads carries a punch and die means are provided opposite the punch and at the opposite face of the work from the punch to cooperate with the punch in forming the blanks. The die means opposite the punch is preferably carried or supported by the guide means when the heads are farthest apart and is preferably picked up by the head opposite the 1 head carrying the punch when the heads move toward each other whereby at each cycle of operation the work piece is clamped between the guide means and the die means ,just as the punch passes through the work piece.

My method and apparatus enable extremely rapid formation of blanks such as hollow nut blanks while automaticallyseparating the blanks from the scrap. The blanks are of high quality but due to the great speed. with which they can be made are of relatively low cost. The apparatus is rugged and adapted for longv life and is not likely. to become. out of order even when operated at .speeds as high as 1000 to 1500 cycles per minute or higher.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof and a present preferred method of practicing the same proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention and have illustrated a present preferred method of practicing the same, in which Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in central vertical longitudinal cross-section through a forming machine shown in the process of. forming hollow nut blanks, the heads being shown in approximately their farthest apart position.

Figure la is a fragmentary plan view of the scrap after stamping of the nut blanks therefrom.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the heads in approximately their closest together position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical transverse cross-sectional view taken on the line III-III of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse cross sectional view to enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus showing at the left hand half of the figure the heads in their farthest apart position and at the right hand half of the figure the heads in their closest together position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a Conner type forming machine embodied as a high speed stamping press and comprising a base 2 carrying a frame in which are mounted four parallel shafts designated respectively by reference numerals 3, 4, 5 and 6. The axes of the shafts 3 and 4 lie in the same horizontal plane. The axes of the shafts 5 and 6 lie in the same horizontal plane. The axes of the shafts 3 and 5 lie in the same vertical plane. The axes of the shafts 4 and 6 lie in the same vertical plane. The shafts are driven by driving means disposed in a casing 1 and which may be of known construction, as, for example, driving means such as disclosed in my said Patent No. 2,406,808. The driving means cause rotation of the shafts 3 and 4 in one direction at the same speed and rotation of the shafts 5 and 6 in the opposite direction at that same speed. In the structure shown the shafts 3 and 4 turn clockwise viewing Figure 1 and the shafts 5 and 6 turn counterclockwise viewing that figure.

The shafts '3, 4, 5 and 6 carry eccentrics and upper and lower working heads 8 and 9, respectively, are mounted upon the eccentrics carried by the shafts 3 and 4 and those carried by the shafts 5 and 6. Thus the heads 8 and 9 partake of orbital movement. The eccentrics are arranged relatively to one another so that 'dur ing their orbital movement the heads move toward each other and when closest together move laterally (i. e., toward the left, viewing Figure 1) in the same direction.

The apparatus thus far described is known apparatus such as is disclosed in my issued patents.

The forming or stamping machine may be provided with a die set which may comprise an upper element [0 bolted to the upper head '8, a lower element H bolted to the lower head 9 and guide means extending between the upper and lower elements to insure their maintaining proper cooperative relationship during operation of the machine. The guide means may, for example, comprise a pin I2 carried by the upper element 10 and a sleeve l3 coaxial with the pin l2 carried by the. lower element II. The common axis of the pin 12 and the sleeve 13 is perpendicular to the respective planes containing the axes of the shafts 3 and 4 and the axes of the shafts 5 and 6. An anti-friction bearing I4 is disposed about the pin I2 and within the sleeve l3 to guide the pin in the sleeve for axial movement relatively thereto. Desirably a plurality of such anti-friction pin and sleeve guide devices are provided in the die set for thus guiding the elements thereof for relative movement as above described.

Bolted to the upper element In of the die set is a downwardly projecting hollow punch l 5. The nose N5 of the punch I5 is externally octagonal but internally circular. Its external shape is shown .in Figure 1a which illustrates the scrap after the blanks have been severed therefrom. Each blank is of octagonal external shape and has a circular bore at its center from which the core is removed. The nose It of the punch l5 has a sliding fit within .an opening I! in a work guide l8, which opening I? is of octagonal shape to slidingly receive the punch nose. The Work guide ['5' is generally in the form of a plate mounted for movement parallel to the direction of lateral movement of the heads 8 and 9 when they are closest together, i. e., in the right and left direction viewing Figure 1. Supporting and guiding rollers [9 bearing against the top and bottom surfaces of the guide plate I8 at its edges as shown in Figures 1 and 3 permit oscillation of the guide plate in the left and right direction viewing Figure l. The guide plate 18 carries a sleeve 26 adapted to be positioned coaxially with the sleeve l3 and the pin l2. An anti-friction bearing 21 is disposed about the sleeve I3 and within the sleeve 20 to guide the sleeve l3 in the sleeve 20 for axial movement relatively thereto. It being borne in mind that the die set is provided with more than one of the pin and sleeve guides like the guide l2, l3; l4, the guide plate l8 has a sleeve 28 corresponding to each thereof and an anti-friction bearing 2| is provided for cooperation with each sleeve l3 and sleeve 20. Thus it will be seen that when the heads 8 and 9 partake of their orbital movement in operation of the machine the pins [2 and sleeves l3 not only insure guiding of the elements l0 and II in proper relationship toward and away from each other but also cause oscillation of the guide plate l 8 in synchronism with the back and forth movement of the heads. Moreover, the fact that a plurality of the guide pins and sleeves pass through the guide plate 18 insures maintaining the plate It! in proper horizontal orientation, i. e., it is thereby prevented from skewing sidewise. The guided relationship between the elements In and I l and the guide platel8 also insures proper operation of the nose [6 of the punch IS in the opening I! in the guide plate l8 upon operation of the machine.

Bolted to the under face of the guide plate [8 are opposed supporting brackets 22 each having at its extremity remote from the guide plate IS an inturned foot 23. The feet 23 of the respective brackets 22 extend toward each other and are adapted to support during a portion of the cycle of operation of the machine the lower die structure which will now be described.

The lower die element II has a vertical bore 24 having an enlarged upper portion 25, a shoulder 26 being formed between the portions 24 and 25. A bearing member 21 fits within the portion and is seated on the shoulder 26. A sleeve 28 has a sliding fit within the bearing member 21. Above the bearing member the sleeve 28 has a portion 29 of somewhat enlarged diameter and at its upper extremity above the portion 29 it has another portion or flange 30 of still greater diameter. The flange 30 is adapted to be disposed between the feet 23 of the brackets 22 and the under surface of the guide plate I 8. However, the axial dimension of the flange 30 is somewhat less than the axial distance between the under surface of the guide plate 58 and the upper surfaces of the feet 23. Thus the sleeve 28 may be supported by the feet 23 as shown at the left in Figure 4, at which time the upper surface of the sleeve 28 is spaced from the lower surface of the guide plate I8. At other times, as will presently be explained, the sleeve 28 may be forced upwardly so that its upper surface engages the under surface of the guide plate l8, at which time the sleeve 28 is no longer supported by the feet 23 but the under surface of the flange 36 is spaced above the upper surfaces of the feet 23 as shown at the right in Figure 4.

At its upper end the sleeve 28 has an enlarged bore 3| receiving a die 32 whose upper surface is flush with the upper surface of the sleeve 28. The die 32 has in its upper surface a longitudinally extending recess 33 adapted to cooperate with the plate [8 in guiding and positioning the work piece which in the structure shown is a metal strip 34. The depth of the recess 33 is substantially equal to the thickness of the stock and its width is very slightly greater than the width of the stock so that when the die 32 is spaced from the plate l8 as shown at the left in Figure 4 the recess 33 maintains the stock in proper longitudinally guided relationship with respect to the plate l8 yet does not clamp the stock against the plate; yet when the die 32 is in its uppermost position as shown at the right in Figure 4 it clamps the stock against the under surface of the plate.

The die 32 has therethrough an opening 35 of the same size and shape as the octagonal opening I I in the plate [8 and similarly oriented so that when the nose I6 of the punch [5 passes through the stock as shown at the right in Fig ure 4 it stamps out of the stock a blank 36 which is externally octagonal. In Figure la there are shown octagonal openings 36a in the stock from which blanks 36 have been stamped out. The outer edge of the bottom face of the punch nose I6 cooperates with the inner edge of the upper face of the die 32 which is at the elevation of the bottom of the recess 33 to cut off or sever the externally octagonal blank from the stock. The guide plate l8 has in its upper surface a recess 31 to provide clearance for the upper portion of the punch [5.

The sleeve 28 has a portion 38 to which is bolted by a bolt 39 a pin or male die member 40 whose upper portion is formed as a circular cylinder and which has an offset 4| forming a shoulder 42 for a purpose to be presently described. The upper surface of the pin 40 is flush with the bottom of the recess 33 in the die 32, the pin being in effect integral with the die 32 since both the pin and the die 32 are rigidly held by the sleeve 28. Hence the pin and the die 32 cooperate with the punch 15 and receive the blank 36 severed from the stock and also when the heads are closest together the extremity of the punch nose as shown at the right in Figure 4. The punch cooperating with the die 32 and the pin 40 forms not only the externally octagonal internally circular blank 36 but also a core 43 in the shape of a small circular disc severed from the center of the blank 36. The cores 43 are delivered upwardly through the hollow punch l5 which has a delivery passage 44 therefor. When the punch'passes through the stock on each cycle the small disc or core 43 fits Within the opening in the punch and by reason of its frictional engagement therewith is withdrawn upwardly with the punch when the punch is retracted. Thus the cores 43 are ejected through the delivery passage 44 in an upwardly moving stack which is built up from the bottom. Upon each cycle of the dies a core is forced up into the bottom of the hollow punch by the pin 40, which core pushes up the next core above it and hence moves up the entire stack until the cores are delivered from'the top of the passage 44.

Disposed within the sleeve 28 is another sleeve 45 having an upper portion whose cross-section is the same as that of the punch nose I6 and of the .severed and coreless blank 36, i. e., its outer surface is octagonal and its inner surface is cylindrical. Below the upper portion the sleeve 45 has an outwardly projecting foot 46' adapted when the 7 sleeve 45 is in its uppermost position to have its upper surface in engagement with the under surface of the die 32 as shown at the left in Figure 4. The sleeve 45 is movable downwardly relatively to the sleeve 28 from the position shown at the left in Figure 4 to the position shown at the right in Figure 4. The portion 38 is bored to receive pins 41 each having a relatively small lower portion 48 and a relatively large upper portion 49 forming therebetween a shoulder 50. Each of the pins 4'! is movable up and down between its upper position as shown at the left in Figure 4 and its lower position as shown at the right in Figure 4 in which the shoulder 50 seats upon a portion of the sleeve 23. The pins 41 are maintained at all times in engagement with the under surface of the foot 46 of the sleeve 45 by mechanism now to be described.

The sleeve 28 has a reduced lower portion which is internally threaded and into which is screwed the externally threaded reduced upper extremity 52 of a tube 53. The bottom of the tube 53 is closed by a removable plug or cap 54 which may, for example, be a removable screw plug. Within the lower portion of the tube 53 is a cylinder 55 which acts simply as a spacer. Bearing against the upper face of the cylinder 55 is a compression coil spring 56 which bears against the bottom surface 51 of a flange 58 at the bottom of a compression member 59. When the compression member 59 is in its uppermost position as shown at the left in Figure 4 the upper surface of the flange '58 thereof engages a shoulder 60 in the tube 53. A bearing sleeve 6| is interposed between the inner surface of the upper extremity of the tube 53 and the outer surface of the reduced upper portion of the compression member 59.

The parts are proportioned so that when the upper surface of the flange 58 of the compression member 59 is in engagement with the shoulder 6B the upper surface of the foot 46 of the sleeve 45 is in engagement with the under surface of the die 32 asshownat the left in Figure 4. Thus the shoulder 50 is not essential to operation but is provided to distribute the stress during operation of the machine. Downward movement of the sleeve 45 is limited by engagement of the shoulders 50 of the pins '47 with a portion of the sleeve 28 as shown at the right in Figure 4 and asabove explained.

Means are provided for holding the sleeve 28 against turning relatively to the brackets 22 and also for holding the sleeve 45 against turning relatively to the sleeve 28. Such means may comprise vertical keys, one acting between one of the brackets 22 and the sleeve 28 and another acting between the sleeve 28 and the sleeve 45.

The die 32 has in addition to the opening 35 another opening '62 in alignment with the opening 35 longitudinally of the machine, 1. e., in the direction of advance of the work piece or strip 34 therethrou'gh. The opening 52 may be octagonal and have the same orientation as the opening 35 but is of somewhat greater transverse dimension to allow the blanks 35 to be discharged therethrough. The element it carries a knockout pin 63 coaxial with the opening 52 and adapted upon each cycle of operation to project one of the blanks 3'3 downwardly through the opening 62. The exact shape of the opening 62 is therefore notv critical but it is of slightly greater transverse internal dimension than the external dimen'sions of the blank. The pin 63 and the punch are both rigidly fastened to the element ID and hence operate in unison. Upon each cycle of operation of the machine the nose l6 of the punch 15 passes through the stock and into the die 32 and the knock-out pin 63 passes through the stock and into the opening 62.

The operation of the mechanism shown in the drawings will now be described. As mentioned above, feeding mechanism is employed to advance the strip through the machine from right to left, viewing Figure l, with a step by step movement. By "step by step I do not mean that the strip necessarily stops at any time, but its speed is nonuniform. t is clamped between the die 32 and the plate 18 during the portion of each cycle during which punching or stamping takes place and during that portion of the cycle the feed is controlled by the members [8 and 32. When, however, the strip is released by the members l8 and 32 as the heads recede from one another the feeding mechanism advances the strip so that the next time the strip is clamped by the members is and 32 it will be punched at a location spaced along it a distance as shown in Figure la from the preceding location at which it was punched. The strip is advanced between punching operations far enough to leave a small tongue 64 of stock between the openings therein from which tr e blanks 35 are removed.

When the heads are farthest apart as shown in Figure 1 the punch nose It and the knock-out pin 63 are disposed above the lower surface of the plate it; also the upper surfaces of the sleeve 28 and the die 32 are spaced below the strip 34 so that at such time the strip is under the control of the feeding mechanism which is not interfered with by the dies. At such time the sleeve is in its uppermost position as shown at the left in Figure 4, being maintained in that position by the spring 5'6. When the sleeve 45 is in its uppermost position its upper extremity is flush with the lower surface of the recess 33.

It is to be borne in mind that in operation of the machine the head 8 rotates clockwise in its orbital movement and the head 9 rotates counterclockwise in its orbital movement. Since each of the heads 8 and 9 is mounted on two shafts each of the heads maintains its orientation, i. e., no part of it turns at any time about any other part of it. I have described above the position of the parts when the heads are farthest apart as shown in Figure 1. As the upper head 8 moves to the right and downwardly and the lower head 8 moves to the right and upwardly, viewing Figure 1, the elements It and H approach each other. As the element I'll moves downwardly the punch 15 and knock-out pin 63 approach the strip 34. As the element I l moves upwardly the member 21 approaches the shoulder at the bottom of the portion 29 of the sleeve 28. When the member 21 is not in engagement with that shoulder the sleeve 28 and everything supported thereby is being supported from the plate [8 by the footed supporting brackets 22. At that time the upper surface of the die 32 is spaced from the lower surface of the plate l8 as shown at the left in Figure 4.

Just before the nose l6 of the punch l5 penetrates the strip 34 the member 2'! engages the shoulder at the bottom of the portion 29 of the sleeve 28 and raises the sleeve 28 so that the strip 34 is clamped between the upper surface of the die 32 and the lower surface of the plate I8. The punch then severs the blank 36 from the strip 34,

v the nose of the punch moving downwardly as shown at the right in Figure 4 between the die 32 and the pin 4|. stamped from the strip 34. When the punch approaches its lowermost position as shown at the right in Figure 4 it has severed the blank 36 from the strip. The blank 36 bears against the top of the sleeve 45 and the downward movement of the punch causes the blank to push down the sleeve 45 against the action of the spring 56 so that when the punch is in its position of greatest projection through the plate I8 the parts are as shown at the right in Figure 4. As the punch is withdrawn upwardly the spring 56 causes the sleeve 45 to follow the punch upwardly and to push the blank 36 back toward the strip. The sleeve 45 causes the blank 36 to be frictionally engaged in the opening in the strip from which it was stamped out. In the structure shown the sleeve 45 does not push the blank completely into the plane of the strip because as the upper surface of the foot 46 approaches the lower surface of the die 32 the element II has receded somewhat from the plate l8. However, the sleeve 45 sufficiently engages the blank in the opening in the strip from which it was stamped out that the strip will carry the blank with it on its next forward movement. I have explained above how the cores 43 are retained within the hollow punch and delivered upwardly through the passage 44 therein. As the strip is released by movement of the sleeve 28 away from the plate 18 it is advanced one step so that when next the punch engages the strip it engages it at a position spaced along the strip from the previous position a distance equal to the distance between holes 36a in the strip as shown in Figure 1a. Upon each cycle the strip advances a distance equal to one- The core 43 is simultaneously half the distance between the axis of the punch r out and delivered through the opening 62 at the second station, i. e., the station at which the knock-out pin 63 is positioned, at the second cycle thereafter. Intermediate those two cycles that blank is disposed for one cycle midway between the two stations. Thus in a single operation a blank is stamped from the strip, a core is stamped from the blank, the blank is re-engaged in the strip, the core is delivered away from the strip and a previously formed blank is knocked out of the strip and delivered separately from the core.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention and have illustrated a present preferred method of practicing the same it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practic d within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a forming machine, a first work piece positioning member oscillatable in a plane, a second work piece positioning member oscillatable with the first work piece positioning member but also movable toward and away from the first work piece positioning member, a punch oscillatable with the first work piece positioning member but also during the cycle of oscillation movable relatively thereto to sever a blank from a work piece disposed between and positioned by said work piece positioning members and means opposed to the punch oscillatable with the first work piece positioning member and resiliently operable to follow up the punch when it is re- 10 tracted to move the severed blank toward the first work piece positioning member.

2. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, a work guide positioned between the heads and oscillatable parallel to said direction, one of the heads having a punch adapted during the cycle of operation to pass through the work guide and sever a blank from a work piece positioned thereagainst, the other head having a work guide adapted during the punching operation to clamp 3. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction and die means on the heads cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece and a core from the blank, the die means having separate delivery passages through which the blanks and cores are respectively delivered.

4. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction and opposed dies carried by the respective heads cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from'the workpiece and a core from the blank, one of the dies having therein a delivery passage through which the blanks are delivered, the other die having therein a delivery passage through which the cores are delivered.

5. In' a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction and opposed dies carried by the respective heads cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads'to sever a blank from the work piece and a core from the blank, one of the dies having therein a delivery passage through which the blanks are delivered, the other die having therein a delivery passage through which the cores are delivered, said delivery passages being respectively at locations spaced apart in said direction.

6. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally advance between the=heads insaiddirectionand die means on the -heads'cooperable upon each cycle of movement of theh'eadsto sever a blank from the workpiece-and a-core from the-blank, the die means having separate delivery passages through which the-bl-anks-and--cores are respectively delivered, said delivery passages being respectively at locations spaced apart in said direction.

'7. In 'a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as-to maintain substantially'fixed orientation during their orbital mov-ement,the heads beingmovable toward andaway from eachother and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an elongated work piece for-step by step advance between the heads in said direction, a first station, diemeans carried by the heads -at the first station cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece, a second station, the severed blank being adapted to'be advanced by the work piece from the first station to thesecond station, and a discharge passage at the second station through which the blank passes away from the workpiece.

'8. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so asto maintainsubstantially fixedorientation duringtheir'orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an-elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in-said direction, a first station, die means carried by the heads at the first station cooperable upon each cycle of movement-of the heads to sever a blank from the workpiece, a second station, the severed blank being adapted to be-advanced by the work piece from the first station to the second station, and means at the second station formoving the blank transversely'of sai'ddirection-to deliverthe same away from the workpiece.

9. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each'other-and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means f'or'guiding an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction, a first station, die means carried by the heads at the first station cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads tosever a blank from the work piece, means at the first station for forcing the severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be frictionally engaged by the Work piece, a second station, the blank being adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the-first station to the second station, and means at-the second station for finally separating the blank from the work piece.

10. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their'orbltal movement, the heads being movable toward-and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction, a first station, die means carried by the heads at the -first station cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece and a core from the blank, the core being discharged atthe first station, a second station, the severed blank being adapted to be advanced-by the work piece from the first station to the second station, and a discharge passage at the second station through which the blank passes away from the work piece.

11. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as tomaintain substantially fixed orientation during-their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding'an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction, a first station, die means carried by the heads at the first station cooperable upon each cycle of'rnovement of the heads to sever a blank from the-work piece and a core'fromthe blank, means at the first station for delivering the core away from the work piece, means at the first station for forcing the severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be fri'ctionally engaged by the work piece, a second station, the blank being adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the first station to the second station, a discharge passage at the second station and means at the second station for finally separating the blank from the work piece and directing the blank into the discharge passage. 7

12. Ina forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so asto maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other'and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction, a first station, die means including a hollow punch carried bythe heads at the first station cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever ablank'from the work piece and a core from the blank, the core being delivered away from the work piece through the hollow punch, means at thefirst station "for forcing the severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be frictionally engaged by the work piece, a second station, the blank being-adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the first station to the second station, and means at the'second station for finally separating the blank from the work piece.

'13. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each otherand when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction, a first station, die means including a punch carried by the heads at the first station cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece, a spring pressed member opposed to the punch yieldable during severing of the blank from the work piece by the punch and spring operated to follow the punch upon retraction thereof and force the severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be frictionally engaged by the work :piece, a second.

station, the blank being adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the first station to, the

second station, and means at the'second station 13 for finally separating the blank from the work piece.

14. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, means for guiding an elongated work piece for step by step advance between the heads in said direction, a first station, die means including a hollow punch carried by the heads at the first station cooperable upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece and a core from the blank, the core being delivered away from the work piece through the hollow punch, a spring pressed member opposed to the punch yieldable during severing of the blank from the work piece by the punch and spring operated to follow the punch upon retraction thereof and force the severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be frictionally engaged by the work piece, a second station, the blank being adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the first station to the second station, and means at the second station for finally separating the blank from the work piece.

15. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, guide means disposed between the heads oscillatable in said direction and the opposite direction in synchronism with the back and forth movement of the heads parallel to said direction, the guide means being adapted to have a work piece disposed thereagainst and to be advanced with the guide means upon each movement of the guide means in said direction, a first "station, a hollow punch carried by one of the heads at the first station passing through the guide means and cooperable with opposed die means carried by the other head upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece and a core from the blank, the core being delivered away from the work piece throughthe hollow punch, a spring pressed member opposed to the punch yieldable during severing of the blank from the work piece by the punch and spring operated to follow the punch upon retraction thereof and force the severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be frictionally engaged by the work piece, a second station, the blank being adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the first station tothe second station, and means at the second station for finally separating the blank from the work piece.

16. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movementfthe heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, guide means disposed between the heads oscillatable in said direction and the opposite direction in synchronism with the back and forth movement of the heads parallel to said direction, the guide means being adapted to have a work piece disposed thereagainst and to be advanced with the guide means upon each movement of the guide means in said direction, a first station, a hollow 14 punch carried by one of the heads at the first station passing through the guide means, die means carried by the other head at the first station cooperable with the punch upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece and a core from the blank, said die means being adapted during the punching operation to clamp the work against the guide means and being retractible away from the work piece upon retraction of the punch, a spring pressed member opposed to the punch yieldable during severing of the blank from the work piece by the punch and spring operated to follow the punch upon retraction thereof and force the severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be frictionally engaged by the work piece, a second station, the blank being adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the first station to the second station, and means at the second station for finally separating the blank from the work piece.

17. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, bearing means, guide means movable on the bearing means, disposed between the heads, oscillat'able by at least one of the heads and constrained by the bearing means to back and forth movement parallel to said direction, the guide means being adapted to have a work piece disposed thereagainst and to be advanced with the guide means upon each movement of the guide means in said direction, a first station, a hollow punch carried by one of the heads at the first station passing through the guide means, die means at the first station supported by the guide means in position spaced from the work piece opposite the punch when the heads are not closest together, supported by the other head when the heads are closest together so as to clamp the work piece against the guide means and cooperable with the punch upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece and a core from the blank, a spring pressed member opposed to the punch yieldable during severing of the blank from the work piece by the punch and spring operated to follow the punch upon retraction thereof and force the severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be 'frictionally engaged by the work piece, a second station, the blank being adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the first station to the second station, and means at the second station for finally separating the blank from the work piece.

18. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, bearing means, guide means movable on the bearing means, disposed between the heads, oscillatable by at least one of the heads and. constrained by the bearing means to back and forth movement parallel to said direction, the guide means being adapted to have a work piece disposed thereagainst and to be advanced with the guide means upon each movement of the guide means in said direction, a first station, a punch carried by one asses-s4- 15 of the heads at the first station passing through the guide means, die means at the first station supported by the guide means in position spaced from the work piece opposite the punch when the heads are not, closest together, supported by the other head when the heads are closest together so as to clamp the work piece against the guide means and cooperable with the punch upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece, a member opposed to the punch operable to follow the punch upon. retraction thereof and force the: severed blank at least partially back into the work piece whereby to cause the blank to be frictionally engaged by the work piece, a second station, the blank being adapted to be advanced by the work piece from the first station to the secondstation, and. means at the second station for finally separating the blank from the work piece.

19. In a forming machine, opposed 'orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and. away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, bearing means, guide means movable on. the bearing means, disposed between the heads, oscillatable by at least one of the heads and constrained by the bearing means to back and forth movement parallel to said direction, the guide-'mean being adapted to have a work piece disposedthereagainst andto be advanced with the guide means upon each movement of. the guide means in said direction, a punch carriedby one of the heads passing through the guide means, die means supportedby'the guide means in position spaced'from the work piece opposite the punch when the heads are not closes-t together, supported by the other head when the heads are closest together so asto clamp the work piece against the guide means and cooperable with the punch upon each cycl-eof movement of the heads to sever a blank from the work piece and amember' opposed to the punch operable to follow the punch upon retraction thereof and eject the severed blank from the die means.

20. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward andaway from each other and when closest together movable laterally in'the same direction, guide means disposed between the heads linearly oscillatable parallel to said direction in synchronism with the heads, the guide means being adapted to have a work piece advanced therewith upon each movement of theguide means in said direction, a punch carried by one of the heads" passing through the guide means, die'meanssupported by the guide means in position spaced from the work piece opposite the punch when the heads are not closest together, supported by the other head when the heads are closest together so as to clamp the work piece against the guide means and cooperable with the punch upon each cycle-of movement of the heads to sever a blank from thework piece and a member opposed to the punch operable to follow the punch upon retraction thereof and eject the severed blank from the die means.

21. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable heads guided so as to maintainsubstantially fixed orientation during their-orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, guide means disposed between the heads linearly oscillatable parallel to said direction in synchronism with the heads, the guide means being adapted to have a workpiece advanced therewith upon each movement of the guide means insaid direction, a punch carried by one of the heads passing through the guide means and die means supported by the guide means in position spaced from the workpiece opposite the punch when the heads are not closest together, supported by the other head when the heads are closest together so as to clamp the workpiece against the guide means and cooperable with the punchup'on each cycle of movement of the heads to sever 'a blank from the workpiece.

22. In a forming machine, opposed orbitally movable head's guided so as to maintain substantially fixed orientation during their orbital movement, the heads being movable toward and away from each other and when closest together movable laterally in the same direction, guide means disposed between the heads and arranged for linear movement parallel to said direction, means extending between the heads and engaging the guide means to oscillate the guide means parallel to said direction in synchronism with the heads, the guide means being adapted to have a workpiece advanced therewith upon each movementof the guide means in said direction, a punch carried by one of the heads and die means supported by the guide means in position spaced from the workpiece opposite the punch when the heads are not closest together, supportedby 'the other head when the heads are closest together so as to clamp the workpiece against the guide means and cooperable with the punch upon each cycle of movement of the heads to sever a blank from the workpiece.

GUY O. CONNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 272,332 Salomon Feb. 13, 1883 412,618 Holz Oct. 8, 1889 515,961 Jorres Mar. 6, 1894 799,624 Beck Sept. 19, 1905 986,478 Bigazzi et al. Jan. 3,1911

1,202,596 Shepard Oct. 24, 1916 1,236,338 Miller Aug. 7, 1917 1,245,059 Strand Oct. 30, 1917 1,303,680 Kent Mfay 13, 1919 1,723,935 Hendricson Aug. 6, 1929 1,994,776 Lewis et al. Mar. 19, 1935 2,012,423 Ferris Aug. 27, 1935- 2,110,998 McDanie-ls Mar, 15, 1938 2,160,676 Richard May 30', 1939 2,313,525 Edelman Mar. 9, 1943 2,322,547 Shal-la June 22, 1943 2,353,232 Greene July 11, 194-4 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 251,873 Germany Oct. 10, 1912 295,088 Germany Nov. 9, 1916 

